Early in December, the Lakers found themselves down two points to the Miami Heat with just two seconds left showing on the clock, though it was L.A.Â’s ball on the sideline opposite MiamiÂ’s bench.
In Kobe's absence, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol picked up the slack for L.A., particularly in two February games at always tough arenas in Portland and Utah.
With 44 points in a routine regular season contest at Memphis, Bryant surpassed Jerry West as the greatest scorer in Lakers history with 25,198 points.
Kirk Penney scored 25 points to help New Zealand surge into the knockout round of the basketball world championships with an 82-70 win over France on Thursday.
Tibor Pleiss scored 23 points to give Germany a 91-73 win over Jordan on Thursday in a match between two eliminated teams at the basketball world championship.
Marcelo Machado scored 18 points, Anderson Varejao grabbed 12 rebounds in his longest stint at the world championship, and Brazil clinched third place in Group B with a 92-74 victory over Croatia on Thursday.
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